DEPARTMENT OF BOTANY AND FORESTRY. 21 &' 



has done a little by way of experiment to foster the production of fish in our 

 lakes, ponds and streams. We legislate to protect birds and wild game, and 

 appropriate money to encourage a large number of worthy objects, but for 

 "our forests, from which we are drawing a larger amount in natural wealth 

 than from any other source of supply, or from all other sources together, we 

 have so far done practically nothing to protect or cultivate." — Dr. E. J. 

 James. 



If something profitable cannot be done in connection with this great 

 subject of forestry, then it is very unlike any other question of great 

 importance. 



We feel confident that there are many important points in connection with 

 forestry which should constantly receive a good deal of thought from many 

 of our best citizens. 



Although late in the day, in 1887, Michigan began to give a little atten- 

 tion to this important subject by placing five hundred dollars a year in the 

 hands of the State Board of Agriculture for making inquiries and investiga- 

 tions. In addition to this amount, the State pays for printing the reports. 

 None of the money is used to pay salaries of the commissioners or the 

 directors, who have accomplished a little already in addition to their regular 

 work in other directions. 



The writer is now supposed to be passing one of the thousands of good 

 farm houses situated in any of the older settled^counties of the State, when 

 the following conversation ensues : 



B. " I see the snow drifts have not yet all disappeared." 



C. " No, and we haven't had much snow this winter either, and there has 

 been less strong wind than for some years past. Generally, of late years, 

 when there is a heavy fall of snow, it is soon so unevenly distributed that 

 we have little idea of how much has fallen. It piles up along the north and 

 south roads, and blows from some parts of the east and west roads. The 

 wheat field has many bare spots, while in other places the drifts are deep." 



B. " What do you suppose has brought about this change? " 



C. " Since I cut off that piece of timber down there and brought to view 

 the farms over west for a couple of miles, the wind has frequently swept 

 over my fields with a great deal of force, sometimes making things fairly 

 jingle, and when cold the air seems to penetrate the smallest cracks in my 

 pens, sheds and barns. The pigs squeal, the cows give less milk, the horses 

 shiver, and even the hen-coop is too freely ventilated. I believe the animals 

 at such times eat more grain and fodder than they do when there is less cold 

 air in motion. The house, too, gets colder in the night than it used to when 

 there were few strong winds. I am sure I have to lay in a larger supply of 

 firewood than I used to." 



B. " You seem to take in the whole situation at a glance." 



C. "I have seen many changes in my life. When I came to this neigh- 

 borhood, much of the land was still covered with a dense virgin forest. As 

 one block of woods after another disappeared, I noticed the winds became 

 more frequent and penetrating, but what could I do? and what could my 

 neighbors do? We needed the land to raise more wheat and to feed more 

 stock, and we got something for the timber which helped to pay off 

 mortgages." 



B. " There is a partial remedy for checking the fierce winds which drift 

 the snows in winter, shake the apples from the trees in summer, and lodge 

 the grain before it is ripe." 



